Pressure relief valve



Feb. 5, 1952 w WORK 2,584,523

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Filed March 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 6O 3 l0 50 45 a2 a INVENTOR. ER/CH W, WORK l3 BY Fl TTORNE Y Feb. 5, 1952 WORK 2,584,523

- PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Filed March 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

' ER/CH W, WORK BY HTTORNEY Feb. 5, 1952 w, K 2,584,523

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Filed March 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' IN V EN TOR. ER/cH W. WORK ,q'r TORNE Y Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED Sm m s-1;; orator;

This, invention relates to. valves for automatieally relieving excessive pressure. in fluidjpressure systems, and, moreparticularl'y to a relief valve of the type which comprises an auxiliary dis:- chargev valve for controlling the operation ofa high capacity main. valve.

one. Q jfict. offthi's. inventionisto provide a devicejof the above, naturewhich will not only have ahigh discharge capacity, but will also operate 8 Claims; (01. 137-53) above nature in whichnoy-continued.dischargeof fluid through. the. auxiliary. discharge valve-can occur under, any conditions, thus. avoiding wast age. of fluid, noisy. operation, wire-drawing, and other undesirable effects.

Another, objectis to provide areliefvalve of the above nature in which both the opening and'cl'osing-movementsof the. main valve will be prompt and complete, thus also preventing any wast of fluid. and undue. wear that would result from a continuedlintermediate.position ofthe main valve Fig, 11s alongitudinal sectionaljview of, themproved pressure relief valve.

Fig... 2 is .a crosssectional view taken on. the- -lin 2'-2 of Fig; 1,.showing the outlet channel of the pressure chamber.

Fig. 3' isa cross sectional view taken' on the line 33ofFig 1, showingthe. interior of the channel valve case and'ithe pressure chamber.

"Fig; 4i is a cross-sectional view, taken. on the line 44 of Fig. 1; showingtheinterior of the upper chamber.

Fig. 5 is-aview ofagportion-of Fig. l'-, showing the channel valve and discharge valve mechanism on an enlarged scale;

Referring nowto the drawings; in which like reference" numerals" denote corresponding partsthroughout'theseveral views, the muneral N! indicates generally a valve housing" having -a lowerendiin-the'form's? a-threaded-inlet nipple lli. which is adapted for connection; toagfliiidpressure-system (not-* shown).

Thehiousingdil is also provided With-an intennally threadeddrain outlel'f I2? at" .(Ineside; which is.adaptedforconnectiontoanysuitable (not shown) for carrying away the'fluid dischargedwy the relief valve .to a suitable point oi 'disposal'.

While. the fluid. is beingdischarged throughwhe relief valve; the; principal path of the flow will be upwardly through-a vertical channel I3i'n-the nipple |l', past a main valvedisk It which wii'i then be. wide open; through a; main chamber- I15} and out through the, drain. outlet; l2"; 'Theimain valve. disk f4, however, i normally engages against and closesya circular maiWVaiVeseat' whici'ris provided by an upstanding round edjged .cyline d'rical' flange l 6 at theiupper end of the vertical in etchan i'i The main chamber .l5i's formed" asacavityin the. upper end" of a'lower housing sectigzr l 1, and is closed'at'the top by means ofanintegrallower wall. Ill of an upper housing section .119 which is securedlto said'ljower housingsectiorr by any suit;

, able means such as serews"20(Fi'gt 3')... V I

The main valvedisk l4v is secured to e lbwer sld'eof arecessedfbacking member 2! by means qi a,'.central.screw 22'; and is adapteditobeipressed against. the. main valvese 6 by fl ii pressures whichactagainst the upper iaceofisaid ba k" 18' memb r, nd whi h. re l teral y onfined y a ff a e i ly -cylindrical) rrusa ed flex? ible'bellows 2'32 The. bellows. 2,3. provided. with ,cireu la; end rims 1.4;. 25. which are. solderediresnect ve y tblfll peri hery,ofithe.recessedlbaclnnememben 21 Land to. thelperiphery fa pper endidi k 15 whi h .is integrally attached to the lower centralpgrtlon oi the .wall. 18 bymeans of..an. intermediate neck Inasmuchas thehellows .23.is 1lexible, the backing;me,mber .Zhand the ,enddisk lfi are prcyided withetelescoping sleeve and. rod elements 2d,, 2.9:. withinwsaid bellows in ordento=-guide-the vertical movementsr-ofthe main'valve, dis tain -saidzvalver-.diski inalignmen wi seatlfi. Y The:endidisk.zfi andthewneclt Z-Jai provided with a -vertical aperture- 31 whic M annularcentral recess-iiz imtlie upp, the wall It; whereby-open communication-Will mphragm 36.

The upper chamber 34 is adapted to communicate with the pressure chamber 38 through a T-shaped channel 31 formed in a vertically-slidable hollow valve stem 38 which is attached to the flexible diaphragm 36 at its upper end. The lower end portion of the stem 38 is enlarged so as to form a frusto-conical channel valve element 39, which is loosely contained in a channel valve case 40 movably disposed within the pressure chamber30.

The valvevcase 40 comprises an upper flanged ring 4| having an inner circular seat 42 (Fig. which is adapted to be engaged and closed by the frusto-conical channel valve element 39 when the valve stem 38 is moved upwardly. The case 4|) further includes a flanged cup 43 which is secured to the lower side of the flanged ring 4| by means of a threaded ring 44 and'which slidably receives an integral guide sleeve portion 45 on the lower end of the valve element 39.

A pair of lateral apertures 46 are formed at the lower end of the valve element 39 in order to provide fluid communication between the T- shaped channel 31 and the interior of the case 40, thus permitting the fluid to pass upwardly around the outside of the valve element 39 and the valve stem 38', and out of the valve case 40 into the pressure chamber 36, excepting at such times as the'channel valve element. 39 may be engaged with the circular seat 42 within said case.

It' will thus be seen that the valve element 39 and the valve case 40 constitute a channel valve means which'is operable by vertical movement of the valve stem 38 to control communication between the upper chamber 34 and the pressure chamber 30.

. The valve case'40 is also provided with a downwardly facing annular discharge valve 41 which is confined between the outer surface of the flanged cup 43 and a downwardly-extending end 4 release of any fluid from the presure chamber 38'. this action being supplemented by a small coil spring 58a which is engaged between the bottom of the cup 43 and an annular shoulder 50b in the interior of the valve element 39.

Moreover, inasmuch as the conical valve element 39 is normally disposed below and out of engagement with the inner seat 42 of the valve case 48, said valve element 39 and said valve case 48 constitute a lost-motion connection between the valve stem 38 and the discharge valve 41. Thus, the discharge valve 41 will remain closed during an initial upward movement of the stem 38, and can open only during an upward movement of the stem 33 which is continued after the frusto-conical channel valve element 39 has fully engaged the inner seat 42 and has closed communication between the upper chamber 34 and the portion of the threaded ring 44, and which is y the annular recess 42 in the wall IS.

The circular flange48 embraces a cylindrical recess 49 which extends downwardly into the neck 21 so as to accommodate the cup ,43 when the channel valve casev 48 is in its lowermost position.

The annular' recess 32 has a substantially greater diameter than the channel valve case 48; while the recess 49'is considerably wider than the cup 43, so that when the valve case 40 is raised to separate the discharge valve 41 from the circular flange 48, fluid may pass freely from the pressure chamber 30 into the main chamber l5 through an outlet channel 58 which extends laterally through one side of the neck 21. v However, the discharge valve 41 will normally be pressed downwardly against the discharge valve seat48 by the action of fluid pressure within t echa ne a vec 40, so s to Prev n he pressure chamber 38.

In order to hold the channel valve element 39 normally disengaged from the inner seat 42, the valve stem 38 is pressed downwardly by means of a relatively strong coil spring 5| seated upon a threaded central ring member 52 which is clamped to the upper side of the flexible diaphragm 38 by means of a lower flanged plug 53, the latter also havingthe threaded upper end of the valve stem 38 secured therein. The upper end of the coil spring 5| is engaged with a base washer 54 (Fig. 1) which is held by a screw bushing 55 adjustably supported in theupper end of a spring housing 56. The lower end of the spring housing 56 is secured by screw threads to the upper end of the housing section l9, and serves to clamp and seal the periphery of the flexible diaphragm 36 in place.

Thus, the force provided by the spring 5| may be adjusted by means of the screwbushing 55 in order to regulate the point at which the diaphragm 36 will respondto' fluid'pressure in the .upper chamber 34 so as to raise the valve stem 38.

It will be noted that the coil spring 5| will normally hold the channel valve element 39 against the top of the flanged cup 43, thus positively holding the discharge valve 4! closed, although the spring 5| is vnot relied upon for this function in view of the spring 50a and the effects of pressure within the cup 43, as described above. j

In order to permit the relief valve to be opened manually, provision is made of a slidable vertical stem 51 which is guided in the screw bushing 55 and has an enlarged conical lower end 58 loosely engaged beneath an inwardly-extending integral flange 58a on the threaded ring member 52. The upper end of the stem 51 is provided with a pivotal testing lever 59' which will permit manual operation of said stem.

As a means for facilitating the assembly, inspection, and repair of the relief valve, the transverse bottom .wall 35 of the upper chamber 34 is provided with an enlarged central aperture 68, which. is of sufiicient size to permit the channel valve case 46 to be withdrawn upwardly therethrough. I

The enlarged aperture 66 is provided with an upstanding cylindrical rim, 6|, and has a cup shaped closure 62 disposed therein. The upper end of the closure 62 has an outer flange 62a which is held seated upon 'a packing on said rim 6| by means of a coil spring 63 engagedbetween the bottom of said closure 62 and the lower surface of the plug 53. r

The closure 62v is also provided with an inner receptacle 64a having a threadedring 64b for retaining a packing mu suamwmbra e the" valve stem '38, was: to--- preventleakage 0t fluid'around'said stemfronr-the-upper chamber 34' into-the pressure chamber wtr Thus; it willbe 'seen that all' 'of the valvem'e'cha-nism which is disposed in the upper housing section- [9 may. beeasily remdvedmerely by 'unscrewing the spring housing Eii-fromsaid upper housing sectionso as to perm-it withdrawal of the diaphragm 35, the: flanged closure fiz, and the'channelval-veca'se: 49-1 1 '-..-Operation- To install the improved relieffvalve, the inter nipple H will first" be cisnnected a pressure system aildthe draino'l'ltl't 12 connected to any suitable drainpipe. I It'will be understoodth'at as long -asithe aura pressure in the inlet channel l.3d'des'"not ekceed the predetermined point'of relief, as determined by the adjustment of'tlle screw bushing 55, all of the parts 'will remain'iii the'positionsfshown' in Figs. 1'-and5.f Y I f The pressure in the inlet channel f3; will; of course,- be communicated through the conduit 33; the upper chamber 3 4; the T- shapedichannel' 31, the interior'of the channel valvecasefl, thej'pres= sure chamber 39, and the interior of. the bellbws 23, so' that the dewnwardpressure"against. the

backing member 21 will be equalized" with. the

pressure in the inlet channel l3. [Inasmuch as the upper surface; oflthe 'jmain' valve backing member 21' hasa greater e'fiective areathan the lower surface of the fmairij-valve l4,"the' main valve willbe heldffirmly closedagairi'st theseat l ii.

Assuming now that the fluid pressure in the in"- let channel l3should rise and. approach the predetermined point' of relief, the corresponding pressure rise in the upperbhamb'er' 34'' will be exerted against theflexiblediaphra'gm 36 soasj to overcome the force of the strong'coiled' spring 'EI and initiate an upward movementfor the valve stem 38 and the: frusto-conic'al channel valve "element 39'.

Although the fluid pressure in the upper chamber 34, the pressure chamber 30, and the interior i of the bellows 23 will havebeen equalized up-to this point, the channel valve element 39-will' now engage thecircul'ar seat .42.;thus cutting off the pressure chamber 39 and the interior of the. bellows 23Yfrom any further supplyot fluidifrom the upper chamber 34, and preventing any'furither pressure rise therein.

. by a further upward movement of the channel valve element 39, but will also cause the entire channel valve case 49 to rise and thus separate the annular discharge valve 41 from the circular flange 48. The fluid pressure in the pressure chamber 30 will then be completely discharged through the recess 49, the outlet channel 50, and the drain opening [2, thus releasing the pressure within the bellows 23 and permitting a rapid and complete opening of the main valve disk 14.

It will be understood that the flexible diaphragm36. will maintain the. channel: valvei-ele ment. 39. andthechannelvalv'e case 40. inzaraised position during the entiretimeitha-t .anyexcessive pressure remains. in theiinletxchannel l3...

During. this time the coil. spring 59a and the fluid. pressure within the cup 43 will hold the trusts-conical valve element I 39. in. firm. engage;- ment with the inner. circular seat-4'2, thus. pre

venting any fluid from entering, the pressure chamber 39 and. preventing; any pressure rise therein. p v

The fluid in. the inlet: channel 13 willzoontinue to be discharged at a high rate past thermain valve disk 14- until such time as nearly all of: the excess pressure is relieved and the pressure-:inzsaid channel approaches a. predetermined normal value. The pressurein-the upper chamber. 34-wi-ll undergo a corresponding. drop, being. equalized with the inlet pressure through; the conduit 33, until the force of the coiled spring. 5i. is sufiicient to overcome the upward pressureon the flexible diaphragm 36. v

The diaphragm 36 will then start to descend, carrying with it the valve stem 38,. the channel valve element 39, and the channel valvecase- 40, while the inner circular seat 42 remains in en!- gagement with the channel valve 61811181113439, When the discharge valve 41 has become seated upon the circular flange 48, the descent of the valve case 49 will be stoppedand the. pressure chamber 39 will be. closed ofi from v thegoutlet channel59. v

At. this point in the operation the mainvalve 14: will still be. wide open. If thepressure in the inlet channel l3 should now dropto the predetermined. normal value, iurther downward movement of the diaphragm 36 will cause the channelvalve element 39 to. become separated.- from the inner circular seat- 42, whereupon the fluid under pressure in the upper chamber 34.. may again enter the pressure chamber 39 and the bellows 23, so as to close the main valve disk M firmly against the flange l6.

One advantage of the improved relief valve is that no continuous discharge. of fluid past the auxiliary discharge valve can occur inasmuch as thepressure chamber 30 can never be in simultaneous communication with both. the inletand outlet of the relief valve. It will thus be seen that the main valve willn'everbe held. in a. par-- tially open position, but: will always. be either fully open, or fully closed,lexceptduringthe actual opening and closing movements of'the valve.

While there has-been disclosedin thisspecifica- I tion one form in which the-invention maybe embodied, it is to be understood thatthis form is shown for the purpose of. illustration. only, and that the invention is not. to be. limited to the specific disclosure, but may be modified andembodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

75 mined pressure rise in said inlet fluid to completely close said-valve means, a discharge valve for releasing fluid from said pressure chamber, a lost-motion connection between said movable wall and said discharge valve responsive to a fur ther rise in said inlet pressure for. opening said discharge valve, and means for continuously holding said valve means closed while said discharge valve is open, whereby a continuous dis charge of fluid from said inlet through said pressure chamber to said outlet will-be prevented.

2. In a relief valve having a housing containing amain'valve, means in said housing for controlling saidmain valve, comprising a pressure chamber, an upper chamber divided from said pressure chamber by a transverse wall of said housing, and valve mechanism in said pressure chamber having a slidablestem extending upwardly through said transverse wall, said transverse wall being provided with'an aperture of greater transverse dimensions than said valve mechanism, said aperture being closed by a cup seated upon said transverse wall and slidably receiving said stem, whereby fluid pressure in said upper chamber which predominates over pressure in said pressure chamber will hold said cup seated on saidtransverse wall, and. said valve mechanism may be removed through said aper-. ture. r

3. In a relief valve having a pressure chamber and a main valve controlled by the pressure of fluid in said pressure chamber; means for selectively admitting fluid to said chamber or releasing fluidtherefrom, comprising a valve stem extending slidably through a wail of said pressure chamber, and having an enlarged integral channel valve element disposed in said chamber, a movable valve case loosely enclosing said valve element and having an inner valve seat adapted to engage said valve element adjacent said stem, the interior of said valve case being open to said pressure chamber outwardly of said valveseat, said valve stem and said valve element being provided with a longitudinal channel open at its outer end to a source of fluid and at its-inner end to the interior of said valve case, a wall of said pressure chamber opposite said first mentioned Wall being provided with an outlet channel having a discharge valve seat aligned with said valve case, a discharge valve carried by said valve case and adapted to engage said discharge valve seat, and means for sliding said valve stem to operate said valve element and said discharge valve.

4; The invention as defined in claim 3, in which said valve case is provided with an inner bottom surface exposed to fluid pressure in the channel in said stem, whereby said inner circular seat may be held against said enlarged valve element when said discharge valve is separated from its seat. 5. Theinvention as defined in claim 3, in which said first-mentioned pressure chamberwall has an aperture of a diameter greater than the diameter of said valve case, said aperture having a closure in which said stem is slidably disposed, whereby removal of said valve case from the pressure chamber for purposes of inspection andrepair will be facilitated. 1

6. In a pilot valve mechanism, for controlling fluid pressure in achamber of a relief valve, a valve means for admitting fluid to said chamber, pressure responsive means for closing said valve means, a discharge valvefor releasing fluid from said chamber, alost-motion connection between said pressure responsive means and said discharge valve for opening said discharge valve upon an increase of fluid pressure occurring after said valve means is closed, and means for continuously holding said valve means closedwhile said discharge valveis open.

7. 'The invention as defined in claim 6, in which saiddischarge valve is located within said chamber and is adapted to engage a seat in a wall of said chamber, said discharge valve having an area efiectively exposed in a direction opposite from said seat whereby fluid pressure in said chamber will tend to hold said discharge valve seated.

8. Ina pilot valve mechanism for controlling fluidpressure in a chamber of a relief valve, a discharge valve in'said chamber adapted to engage a seatin awalljof said chamber for controlling the release of fluid therefrom, said discharge valve being provided with an area effectively exposed in a direction opposite from said seat whereby fluid pressure in said'chamber will tend to hold said discharge valve seated, valve means for controlling the admission of fluid to said chamber, means for operating said valve means, and a lost-motion connection between said operating 'means and said discharge valve for drawing said discharge valve away from said seat after closing of said valve means.

' ERICH W. WORK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDYSTATES PATENTS Gondek May 8, 1945 

